Many kids are struggling in school. Do their parents know?
BOSTON (AP) 鈥� It鈥檚 widely known from test scores that the pandemic set back students across the country. But many parents don鈥檛 realize that includes their own child. Opportunities to catch up are plentiful in some places, thanks to federal COVID aid, but won鈥檛 last forever. It will take better communication with parents to help students get the tutoring and other support they need, experts say. Cindi Williams is a co-founder of Learning Heroes, a nonprofit dedicated to improving communication between public schools and parents about student progress. She says: 鈥淧arents can鈥檛 solve a problem that they don鈥檛 know they have.鈥�
4 kidnapped Americans crossed into Mexico to buy medicine
CIUDAD VICTORIA, Mexico (AP) 鈥� The FBI and Mexican officials say four U.S. citizens were kidnapped by gunmen after crossing into Mexico. Mexican President Andr茅s Manuel L贸pez Obrador said Monday the four were going to buy medicine and were caught in the crossfire between two armed groups. They had entered Matamoros, across from Brownsville, Texas, on Friday. They were travelling in a white minivan with North Carolina license plates. The FBI says the vehicle came under fire shortly after it entered Mexico. U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Ken Salazar said they were kidnapped at gunpoint and an 鈥渋nnocent鈥� Mexican citizen was killed. Matamoros is home to warring factions of the Gulf drug cartel.
Cartoonists criticize 'Dilbert' creator over racist remarks
NEW YORK (AP) 鈥� Cartoonists are pushing back against racist remarks made by 鈥淒ilbert鈥� creator Scott Adams, with one artist even using his own strip this week to lampoon the disgraced cartoon. Pulitzer winner Darrin Bell has transformed his strip 鈥淐andorville鈥� into a way to address Adams鈥� racism by mimicking the style of 鈥淒ilbert,鈥� complete with wayward necktie. Other cartoonists have stepped forward to denounce Adams, like Bill Holbrook, who creates 鈥淥n the Fastrack鈥� and Bianca Xunise, who co-authors the strip 鈥淪ix Chix鈥� and is the second Black woman in comics history to be nationally syndicated.
23 charged with terrorism in Atlanta 'Cop City' protest
ATLANTA (AP) 鈥� More than 20 people from around the country face domestic terrorism charges after dozens in black masks attacked the site of a police training center under construction in a wooded area outside Atlanta, the flashpoint of conflict between authorities and left-leaning protesters. Flaming bottles and rocks were thrown at officers during a protest Sunday at 鈥淐op City,鈥� where 26-year-old environmental activist Manuel Esteban Paez Ter谩n, or 鈥淭ortuguita,鈥� was shot to death by officers during a raid at a protest camp in January.
Thousands of pro-Trump bots are attacking DeSantis, Haley
WASHINGTON (AP) 鈥� Researchers have uncovered a network of tens of thousands of fake Twitter accounts created to support former President Donald Trump and attack his critics and potential rivals. Those targeted by the bot network include a Republican candidate for president, Nikki Haley, and potential Trump rival Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. The network was discovered by an Israeli tech firm, Cyabra, which shared its findings with The Associated Press. While the network's creator remains unknown, its existence is a reminder that online manipulation techniques pioneered by Russia are becoming increasingly common in the U.S.
Florida blogger registration bill 'insane,' Gingrich tweets
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) 鈥� A Florida lawmaker attracted a quick backlash to a bill he introduced that would force bloggers who write about elected officials to register with the state. The bill by Republican Sen. Jason Brodeur would require bloggers to file periodic reports with the state if they are paid for posts about the state鈥檚 governor, lieutenant governor, cabinet members or legislative officials. Former U.S. Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich is calling the proposal 鈥渋nsane.鈥� In a tweet Sunday, Gingrich said the legislation should be withdrawn immediately. First Amendment groups argue it violates press freedoms. It is unclear how far the proposal might go in Florida's GOP-controlled statehouse.
2 Capitol riot defendants sought by FBI after disappearing
The FBI is searching for a Florida woman who was supposed to stand trial Monday on charges stemming from the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack as well as another riot defendant who has also gone missing. An FBI agent said Monday that a federal judge in Washington issued bench warrants for the arrest of Olivia Pollock and Joseph Hutchinson III last week after the court was notified that they had tampered with or removed the ankle monitors that track their location. Olivia Pollock is the sister of another Jan. 6 defendant, Jonathan Pollock, who has been on the lam for months.
Tesla price cuts: Flagging demand or tactic to boost sales?
DETROIT (AP) 鈥� In explaining why Tesla Inc. keeps cutting prices on its electric vehicles, the auto industry is pretty much divided into two camps. On one side are analysts who see an aggressive move by the leading manufacturer of EVs to gobble up sales and market share from its competitors just as they鈥檙e beginning to bring more vehicles to market. On the other side are critics who argue that with demand for Tesla鈥檚 older vehicles beginning to wane, the company feels forced to slash prices to attract buyers. Over the weekend, Tesla cut the prices of its two costliest vehicles, from $5,000 to $10,000, or from 4.3% to just over 9%.
Self-taught chefs win coveted stars from Michelin Guide
STRASBOURG, France (AP) 鈥� If your secret wish is to get a reward for your talents in the kitchen, then Georgiana Viou may serve as your inspiration. The self-taught chef from the west African country of Benin, who came to Paris dreaming of becoming an interpreter, was awarded a star on Monday by the Michelin Guide, the bible of gastronomy, for her cuisine at 鈥淩ouge,鈥� a restaurant in the southwestern French city of Nimes. She wasn鈥檛 alone. A chef who studied literature, David Degoursy, and pastry chef Jeanne Satori, with a degree in sustainable development, also won a star for their restaurant de:ja in Strasbourg, in eastern France, where the annual awards ceremony was held.
Archaeologists in Egypt unearth Sphinx-like Roman-era statue
CAIRO (AP) 鈥� Authorities say archaeologists have unearthed a Sphinx-like Roman-era statue and the remains of a shrine in an ancient temple in southern Egypt. The Antiquities Ministry said Monday the artifacts were found in the temple of Dendera in Qena Province, 280 miles (450 kilometers) south of the capital of Cairo. Archaeologists believe the statue鈥檚 smiling features may belong to the Roman emperor Claudius, who extended Rome鈥檚 rule into North Africa between 41 and 54 A.D. The archaeologists also found a Roman-era stone slab with demotic and hieroglyphic inscriptions, which they plan to study further.
The Associated Press
